Information for Prospective Students

To figure out if we have similar interests, you can take a look at my research and publications pages and at the Galen Lab home page. Be aware that I may have new projects that don't have their own web pages yet. Finally, you can look at my idea blog for projects that are in need of students.

If you have a research idea that you're excited about, send me an email or come to my office hour. However, you you do not need to come prepared with a research topic. I have a collection of research ideas and we can discuss them and decide whether there is one you are excited about. It does help if you know what you like and don't like.

Undergraduate and graduate students can get involved in different ways.

• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate Students

You enroll in a 198 course by taking part in the honors program. You enroll in a 199 course by submitting a proposal to the Student Affairs office. Once they approve the course, you can add it to your timetable. A proposal form is available as an editable PDF file.

Expectations

I expect a student to commit about 10 hours per week to the project, an amount of time comparable to other ICS project courses. It's difficult to come up to speed on research in 10 weeks, so it will be beneficial if you can commit to two quarters or more. Occasionally I have a reseach project on which a single quarter's work will be useful. If you are only available for one quarter, please tell me up front.

You should be working on something you are excited about. If you are not, we need to talk without delay. I expect you to work with enthusiasm and diligence because you want to, not because I make you. If you do not think what you are doing is wonderful, then something is wrong and you need to discuss it with me.

We will meet regularly during the quarter. You will definitely not be given a problem and sent off for the entire quarter without guidance. You are expected to produce a report at the end of the quarter, as well as small progress reports along the way.

Qualifications

I am looking for research students who will work independently, and do "A"-quality work. This does not mean that you need to have an A average in order to work with me. It does mean that you are willing to produce the quality and quantity of work necessary to earn an A on this research project.

It helps in research if you have ideas and you can form opinions about things. You're off to a good start if you know what kinds of things you like to do and what you'd like to learn more about.

Here are some other, more concrete things, that I look for in a research student.

• GPA of at least 3.0
• Course load of no more than sixteen units including the research. Twelve units is prefereable.
• Does not work part time more than sixteen hours per week.

Prof. Jim Whitehead of UC, Santa Cruz has excellent advice for people who are applying for graduate school, especially international students. I suggest that both international and domestic students read his page because it provides some insight to the acceptance process. His comments also apply to UC, Irvine, since we're in the same university system.

Applications to the graduate program are handled by the school and campus. PhD students are considered differently than Masters students. Masters students do not receive financial support and are admitted based on scores (GRE and GPA) and letters. Historically, Masters students do not get involved in research, although this has been changing in recent years.

For PhD students, individual professors make decisions on admissions, but decisions on financial awards (Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and Fellowships) are made by the school. We no longer admit students who do not have some form of financial support, either from the school, a professor, or an external organization. While this situation is better for the students who are admitted, it means that we admit fewer students and are less willing to take risks on new students.

Thesis students

If you are looking for an advisor, email me or come talk with me. Normally, I like to work with a student before committing to being an advisor. This will give us an opportunity to get to know each other and figure out whether our personalities and interests compatible.

Projects and Courses

Individual study courses or small research projects are a good way for graduate students to get to know me, and vice versa. I am happy to work with graduate students who are not my advisees if we have a topic of mutual interest. If we decide to go forward, you will be registered in whichever one of the following is appropriate:

I expect a student to commit about 10 hours per week to the project, an amount of time comparable to other ICS graduate courses. We will meet regularly during the quarter. It is up to you to keep me informed of your steady progress through the quarter. You are expected to produce a report at the end of the quarter, as well as small progress reports along the way.

Financial support

If you are only interested in work for financial support, tell me so up front. I occasionally have paid positions available but these normally go to my advisees and students who have done a research project with me. If you are looking for a Teaching Assistant or Reader position, you should talk to ICS Student Affairs, as they make these assignments.

Thanks to Thomas Alspaugh for contributing parts of this page.